What Is a Fire Risk Assessment Report?
A fire risk assessment report is a formal document that records the findings of a fire risk assessment carried out on a premises. It captures the fire hazards identified, the people at risk, the controls already in place, and the actions needed to reduce or eliminate remaining risks.
The report is the written record of that process. It's what you produce after conducting the assessment—a document that can be inspected by regulators, reviewed by insurers, shared with building managers, or used as the basis for the next assessment.
In most jurisdictions, any non-domestic premises with employees or members of the public on site are legally required to have a fire risk assessment carried out by a competent person. In the UK, the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 places this duty on the "responsible person"—typically the employer, owner, or occupier of the building.
Fire risk assessment reports go by several names—fire safety risk assessment report, fire hazard assessment, fire safety inspection report —but they all serve the same purpose: a documented record of fire risk on a premises and the steps taken to manage it.
Why Use a Fire Risk Assessment Report?
A fire risk assessment report does more than satisfy a legal requirement. It's an active tool for protecting people, property, and the business.
Meets legal and regulatory obligations - In most countries, documenting fire risk assessments is a legal requirement for non-domestic premises. A properly completed fire risk assessment report demonstrates that a business has taken reasonable steps to manage fire risk. Without it, the business is exposed to enforcement action, fines, and liability if an incident occurs.
Protects people on the premises - The purpose of a fire risk assessment is to identify what could cause a fire, who would be harmed, and what controls reduce that risk. Documenting those findings in a report means the right people have visibility of the risks and can act on them. It also ensures that vulnerable occupants—people with mobility issues, visitors unfamiliar with the site, or lone workers—are specifically considered and accounted for.
Creates accountability for corrective actions - Identifying a hazard without recording it doesn't fix anything. A fire risk assessment report gives every identified risk an owner and a deadline. That turns findings into action and makes it clear who is responsible for what.
Supports insurance and liability claims - Insurers increasingly require documented fire risk assessments as a condition of cover, particularly for commercial and residential buildings. If a fire does occur, a complete report demonstrates that the business took reasonable precautions, which matters significantly in any claims or legal proceedings that follow.
Triggers regular review and improvement - A fire risk assessment isn't a one-time task. The report should be reviewed whenever there's a significant change to the premises, occupancy, or processes—and at least annually as good practice. A well-structured report makes it easy to see what's changed, what's been resolved, and what still needs attention.
What to Include in a Fire Risk Assessment Report
A complete fire risk assessment report covers the full scope of fire risk on the premises. While formats vary, every report should include the following sections.
Premises and assessment details
Property name, address, and type of occupancy
Date of assessment and date of last review
Name, role, and qualifications of the assessor
Scope of the assessment (which areas were covered)
Identification of fire hazards
Ignition sources (electrical equipment, heating systems, hot work, smoking areas)
Fuel sources (flammable materials, waste, furniture, paper)
Oxygen sources (ventilation systems, air conditioning, doors left open)
People at risk
Employees, contractors, and visitors
Occupants with mobility or sensory impairments
People working alone or in isolated areas
Members of the public, including children or elderly individuals
Existing fire safety measures
Fire detection and alarm systems (type, coverage, and last test date)
Firefighting equipment (extinguishers, sprinklers, hose reels)
Emergency lighting and exit signage
Means of escape (routes, widths, and any obstructions)
Fire doors and compartmentation
Emergency procedures and assembly points
Risk evaluation
Likelihood and potential severity of fire for each hazard identified
Overall risk rating for the premises (low, medium, or high)
Corrective actions and recommendations
Actions required to reduce or eliminate identified risks
Person responsible for each action
Target completion date
Priority level (immediate, short-term, or long-term)
Asbestos considerations
Where asbestos is present in the building, this should be noted in the fire risk assessment report. Asbestos can be disturbed during fire-fighting or remediation work, creating additional hazards. A combined fire risk assessment and asbestos report is common in older commercial and residential buildings, particularly in the UK where asbestos was widely used before the 1999 ban.
Sign-off and review schedule
Assessor signature and date
Next scheduled review date
Record of any previous versions and changes made
How to Use a Fire Risk Assessment Report Template
A template makes the assessment process faster, more consistent, and easier to review. Here's how to get the most from yours.
Use it as a checklist, not just a document
Work through the template section by section during the physical assessment. Don't fill it in from memory afterward—the value of the template is that it prompts you to check things you might otherwise miss, like the condition of fire doors or the coverage of emergency lighting.
Tailor it to your premises type
A fire risk assessment report for flats has different considerations than one for a warehouse or a restaurant. Residential buildings need to account for sleeping occupants, common areas, and the risk of fire spreading between units. Commercial buildings need to address occupant density, hazardous materials, and process-specific risks. Adjust the template to reflect the specific hazards and occupancy type of your building.
Assign actions before you leave the site
Don't wait until the report is finalized to assign corrective actions. Capture the responsible person and target date in the template as you go, so the report is ready to act on as soon as it's complete.
Go digital to save time and improve traceability
Paper-based fire risk assessment reports are hard to store, share, and retrieve. Digital reports completed on a phone or tablet can be submitted instantly, timestamped automatically, and stored centrally. With Mitti (by SafetyCulture), you can build your template once, deploy it across every site, attach photos of hazards directly to the report, and access historical records from anywhere.
Schedule the next review before you close the report
Every fire risk assessment report should include a scheduled review date. Build this into your template so it's never missed. For most premises, an annual review is the minimum—but any significant change to the building, occupancy, or processes should trigger an earlier review.
The 5 Steps of a Fire Risk Assessment
The UK's fire safety legislation and widely adopted international best practice both describe fire risk assessment as a five-step process. Each step should be documented in the report.
Step 1: Identify fire hazards
The first step is to identify everything on the premises that could start or spread a fire. Look for ignition sources (anything that could start a fire), fuel sources (anything that could burn), and oxygen sources (anything that could accelerate a fire). Common ignition sources include faulty electrical equipment, heating systems, and hot work. Common fuel sources include flammable liquids, waste materials, and paper. Identify and eliminate hazards where possible before moving to the next step.
Step 2: Determine people at risk
Not everyone on the premises faces the same level of fire risk. The second step is to identify which people are at greatest risk if a fire breaks out. This includes employees who work alone or in isolated areas, visitors unfamiliar with the building's layout, and occupants with physical or sensory impairments who may need assistance evacuating. In residential settings—particularly fire risk assessment reports for flats—sleeping occupants are a priority consideration given the reduced reaction time if a fire starts at night.
Step 3: Evaluate, remove, or reduce the risks
With hazards and people at risk identified, the third step is to assess the overall level of risk and determine what controls are needed. Evaluate whether existing fire safety measures—detection systems, suppression equipment, escape routes, and evacuation procedures—are adequate for the level of risk identified. Where gaps exist, record what additional controls are needed, who is responsible for implementing them, and by when.
Step 4: Record findings, prepare an emergency plan, and provide training
For premises with five or more employees, the fire risk assessment must be recorded in writing. This is the fire risk assessment report. It should capture all identified hazards, the people at risk, the controls in place, and the corrective actions required. Alongside the report, the responsible person should prepare or review the site's emergency plan—covering evacuation procedures, assembly points, roles and responsibilities, and how the emergency services will be contacted.
Step 5: Review and update regularly
A fire risk assessment is not a one-time task. The fifth step is to schedule and carry out regular reviews to ensure the assessment remains accurate and the controls remain effective. The report should be reviewed whenever there's a significant change to the premises—such as a renovation, a change in occupancy, or the introduction of new processes or materials—and at least annually as general practice. Each review should be documented, with the updated report replacing or superseding the previous version.
